Chicago: Chicago’s Duncan Keith had three assists and saved a goal in the third period as the Blackhawks beat Anaheim 5-2 on Wednesday to force a Game 7 in the NHL Western Conference finals.

The Blackhawks’ biggest stars stepped up during a key stretch in the second period, led by another terrific all-round performance by Keith. Shaking off the Ducks’ plan to wear down Chicago’s top four defencemen, Keith had his fourth multi-point game of the play-offs.

“He’s kind of a freak as far as his metabolism and conditioning level,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “The more he plays, the more efficient, the more he gets going.”

Andrew Shaw had two goals late in the third, sending the Ducks to their first regulation loss of the play-offs. Brandon Saad, Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane also scored for Chicago, while Corey Crawford made 30 saves.

Next up for the NHL play-offs is a double dip of Game 7s to determine which teams will play for the Stanley Cup. The New York Rangers host the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference decider on Friday and the Blackhawks and Ducks meet in Anaheim on Saturday.

It is only the second time in the expansion era since the 1967-68 play-offs that each of the conference finals required a Game 7.

“One group is going to go home and one group’s going to go play for the Stanley Cup,” Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau said. “There’s really not a lot you can leave on the table.”

The Ducks and Blackhawks were both eliminated from last season’s play-offs in Game 7s, and both at the hands of Los Angeles.

“I remember the feeling after we lost that game,” Kane said. “We definitely don’t want that feeling again.”

Patrick Maroon and Clayton Stoner scored for the Ducks, and Frederik Andersen made 18 saves.

Anaheim got a lucky call when Jakob Silfverberg brushed up against Crawford’s glove on Stoner’s first goal of the play-offs at 1:57 of the third, trimming Chicago’s lead to 3-2. There was no call on the play and Crawford threw up his hands in exasperation.

But Crawford quickly put the play behind him, defying the Ducks as they made a frantic push for the tying goal. He got some help from Keith, who swept a shot away from the goal-line.

“It’s unbelievable,” Shaw said. “He’s one of those athletes who digs down and finds that extra step.”

Shaw finally gave the Blackhawks some breathing room when he beat Andersen with a nifty backhander high into the net with 3:32 left. Andrew Desjardins made a nice hustle play to get the puck over to Shaw for his third play-off goal.

Shaw then added an empty-netter in the final minute as Chicago improved to 7-1 at home in the play-offs.